It is easy to see worry and intensity on the faces of so many people in our hectic, fast paced society. Most folks are fighting for achievements, clout, recognition, shapely bodies, money, status, a beautiful house, driving the prestigious cars, etc. Our kids are expected to be achievers, in the best schools participating in the right things to build status, in essence becoming an extension of our ideas of success. We profess Christ while our value system is temporal not eternal.
Matthew admonishes us and uses nature to illustrate that a temporal values system leads to a life of worry. Look at chapter 6:25-32, 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.” Matthew asks to look at nature. God takes care of the birds and beautiful flowers, “what they eat, what they drink and what they wear.” Then, He makes several powerful points.
- “Are you not much more valuable than they?”
- “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”
- “Pagans (who don’t know or trust God) run after all these things”
- “Your heavenly Father knows your needs.” So, why worry?!
Matthew does not leave us dangling. In verses 33 and 34, he shows us how to live and focus our lives so that we will not worry.
- “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Live life moment by moment trusting God. Submitting to Him must become the priority developing an eternal lifestyle.
- “Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Live life in 24-hour chunks. You can plan for tomorrow but live life to the fullest today and let the troubles of tomorrow take care of themselves.
There is no need to worry. “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness.” God knows your needs and will take care of you. Live life focused on today enjoying the special moments of the 24 hours that God has given you.
Barnabas Man 